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GAC Psychology

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GAC Psychology is two modules. GAC029 introduces the field and its history, then emotion and personality, sensation and perception, motivation, sleep and consciousness, and the structures of the brain. GAC030 moves to memory and cognition, theories of intelligence, conditioning and learning, human development and social behaviour including conformity.

You run a study, not just read about one. Designing a psychological experiment, justifying the method, carrying it out and reporting it to academic conventions is assessed in both modules.

Precision of terms is examinable. Sensation is not perception, negative reinforcement is not punishment, and a correlation is not a cause. Most lost marks here come from loose use of a term rather than from material never studied.

Say what a result can and cannot show. Marks sit in separating what was measured from what was concluded, which is the same discipline the research modules elsewhere in the programme teach.

The notes follow the published module outcomes; where the topic matches, explanations and figures are shared with our AP Psychology material.

GAC Psychology Study Materials

  • 1

    GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology
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    • 1.1 What is Psychology

      Unit 1 of 4 in GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology (Level II). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      Module purpose: On completion of this module, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the major principles and concepts of psychology as a subject of academic study.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC029.1: Describe the principles and history of psychology as an academic field.

      Learning Objective GAC029.3: Conduct a psychological experiment and create a report of the findings following academic conventions.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 1.2 Emotions and Personality

      Unit 2 of 4 in GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology (Level II). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC029.2: Identify the properties and functions of different emotions, including their similarities and differences.

      Learning Objective GAC029.4: Explain how personality is the result of learned experience.

      Learning Objective GAC029.5: Connect the fundamental theories of motivation with behaviour.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 1.3 Sensation and Perception

      Unit 3 of 4 in GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology (Level II). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC029.6: Explain how the human senses work and how our perception interprets sensory input.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 1.4 The Biology of Behaviour

      Unit 4 of 4 in GAC029 Psychology II: Introduction to Psychology (Level II). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC029.7: Understand and apply the theories of sleep and consciousness.

      Learning Objective GAC029.8: Describe the important structures of the human brain and their various functions.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

  • 2

    GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology
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    • 2.1 Research Skills

      Unit 1 of 4 in GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology (Level III). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      Module purpose: On completion of this module, students should be able to conduct and interpret academic research across a broad range of topics in psychology. They should also be able to apply academic concepts of psychology to a real-world context.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC030.1: Develop and justify a valid methodology for a psychological research project.

      Learning Objective GAC030.2: Conduct a psychological research study and create a report of the findings following academic conventions.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 2.2 Thinking and Memory

      Unit 2 of 4 in GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology (Level III). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC030.3: Explain the systems and mechanisms of memory.

      Learning Objective GAC030.4: Describe and apply the processes of cognition.

      Learning Objective GAC030.5: Compare the various theories of intelligence.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 2.3 Learning

      Unit 3 of 4 in GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology (Level III). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC030.6: Explain and apply the process of conditioning to learning.

      Learning Objective GAC030.7: Describe the stages of adolescent and adult development.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

    • 2.4 Social Psychology

      Unit 4 of 4 in GAC030 Psychology III: Research in Psychology (Level III). The module is taught over about 40 class hours plus 20 hours of independent study, and is assessed at the teaching centre and moderated by ACT — there is no external exam.

      The module outcomes this unit works towards:

      Learning Objective GAC030.8: Compare individual and group behavior and describe the consequences of conformity.

      Source: Cambridge International syllabus

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